MTN Uganda under its enterprise arm of MTN Business has launched a first of its kind 3-in-1 offer for businesses in Uganda. The offer is designed to help businesses get more out of their operations with more control for business owners while allowing them to concentrate on growing their business.
The three in one offer encompasses Voice, Internet, and MoMo for business, making it easy for enterprise customers to run their business operations effectively with the same seamless experience that MTN as a corporate entity has come to be known for.
As part of the deal, business customers signing up for the offer will receive free service installation on fixed voice, discounted transaction fees on MoMo for Business, as well as free installation, free subscription for the first month, discounts on monthly subscription fees plus free domain registration and hosting for a year for the internet solutions.
Ibrahim Ssenyonga, the MTN Business General Manager said, “Many times businesses think using multiple providers gives them more reliability and lower costs. Instead, managing multiple providers gives you headache.”
“At MTN, we believe that it’s better to find a provider who has all the coverage and solutions you need, can be your single point of contact and you can take advantage of economies of scale for not just better pricing, but more efficient delivery as well,” Ssenyonga said.
Ssenyonga went on to explain that the recent changes with COVID19 have taught business owners that more people are going to be transacting online including making
orders and payments making it even more imperative that the business community adapts to the new normal.
“COVID19 has changed the way people do things. Businesses that have quickly adopted remote ways of working stand a good chance of survival as more people seek convenience that comes with online trading. This new offer is therefore part of MTN’s wider scheme to further consolidate its effort at supporting and enabling SMEs and the business community in Uganda in general,” he said.
Ssenyonga further explained that because Uganda is one of the most entrepreneurial nations in the world, MTN considers it a duty to support this spirit. “MTN continues to inspire and enable the growth of our business customers in Uganda through integrated telecommunications solutions that ensure efficiency and productivity.”
“Under MTN Business, MTN Uganda has always embraced technology to create innovative solutions that allow our customers to focus on their core business as we enable their technology and communication needs. This is just another way we show our commitment towards this,” Ssenyonga said.
—End—
Monday 19th October 2020 – Kampala, Uganda: MTN Uganda has introduced Mobile Money person to person transactions within the ayoba App, a feature that will enable customers to send money to each other in-app, while chatting, without having to log out of the app in order to send money.
In July this year, MTN Uganda in partnership with SIMFY AFRICA, launched ayoba, with a core aim of enabling their customers to access more affordable communication. Ayoba is an instant messaging app that is currently available to Android devices with the iOS version set to be rolled out soon.
Talking about the new features on the App, Susan Kayemba, the Senior Manager, MTN Digital Services said that; “We are happy to inform our customers that they can now send money and receive money within the ayoba app while they chat. They can also listen to music or play games and soon iOS device users will be able to access the ayoba super app and become part of this revolutionary communication experience.”
Kayemba further noted that MTN and SIMFY will continue modifying the ayoba app to integrate all their customers’ telecommunication needs.
According to the ayoba app developers, ayoba is not just a new platform for people to chat with each other, it is a one of a kind digital platform that elevates the concept of instant messaging to a whole new level of instant and integrated connecting
Unlike other messaging apps, with ayoba, customers can chat (app to SMS and SMS to app) with anyone regardless of whether they have a smart phone or not, or whether they have the ayoba app or not. MTN customers can reply to these messages on SMS even when they don’t have the app. ayoba lets you securely send and receive text messages, voice messages, videos, images, audio and other files with any of your contacts, using your mobile internet connection. MTN customers will however not need any data (MBs) to use the service. They can use it free of charge up to 1GB of data, every month.
Ayoba is a Pan African messaging platform, built by Africans for Africans. It speaks to the uniqueness and diversity of Africa and boasts of features not available on any other instant messaging platforms. The app is available in some African languages, such as Swahili, Luganda, Hausa, isiXhosa, and Yoruba. It has end-to-end encryption to keep users’ data safe and ensure their privacy as they chat with their contacts regardless of their device or network. ayoba also has channels on sports, fashion, cooking, health, and games.
This innovation, underscores MTN’s leadership ambitions in innovation as it helps Africa claim its place in the IM evolution.
Key features of the ayoba app include:
- Chat now: Users can instantly send and receive text and voice messages with any of their contacts regardless of device type or network.
- Music: Users can now listen to curated playlists of their favorite music and artists on ayoba
- Gaming: Users can play a large selection of in – app games
- FREE to use: It is free to use by MTN customers for up to 1GB every month, for every user.
- Mobile Money (send & receive): Users can now send money in – app
- Chat with everyone: Users can send SMS text messages with anyone in their contact list, regardless of whether they have ayoba installed or not.
- Channels: Users can subscribe to channels of interest for locally relevant content across various categories.
- Local languages: ayoba is available in the top local languages in the markets where the offering has launched.
- Security: End-to-end encryption means that messages in a conversation cannot be read by anyone else.
About MTN Uganda
Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As at 31st December 2018, MTN Uganda recorded 11.2 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug or www.twitter.com/mtnugpro for assistance.
About the MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN”. We are pursuing our BRIGHT strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech and digital businesses.
About ayoba
ayoba is a free Instant Messaging (IM) application (App) developed and owned by SIMFY AFRICA – Cape Town, South Africa.
Although Africa is one continent, it is also the home to hundreds of unique cultures. ayoba celebrates the diversity of Africa by providing a world-class messaging platform that reflects local needs and aspirations.
ayoba’s inclusive approach to technology means that ayoba users will be able to communicate with with anyone with a mobile device, even if they don’t have the ayoba app. During an initial promotional period, this communication is made available at no cost, across selected mobile network operators.
For more information, please contact:
The mediadesk.ug@mtn.com or 077 212 1372 or
Rhona Arinaitwe at rhona.arinaitwe@mtn.com or 077 2123067 or
Emmy Olaki at emmy.olaki@tbwa-uganda.com or 078 260 5997
12th October 2020
MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda wish to inform the public and their customers that mobile money services between the two networks have resumed.
Customers can now send and receive money across both networks.
We apologise to all customers for any inconvenience this may have caused and reiterate our commitment to delivering secure and seamless mobile money services.
Regards,
| Wim Vanhelleputte
Chief Executive Officer MTN Uganda |
VG Somasekhar
Managing Director Airtel Uganda |
-END-
Media enquires:
| Rhona Arinaitwe
Senior Manager Corporate Communications MTN Uganda
|
Email: Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com
|
| Sumin Namaganda
Public Relations Manager Airtel Uganda
|
Email: sumin.namaganda@ug.airtel.com
|
08th October 2020
MTN Uganda provides select mobile money services aggregated or integrated through third parties. On 3 October 2020, an aggregator, Pegasus Technologies Ltd experienced a security breach that impacted Bank 2 Wallet transfers. Although the incident did not affect any customer money mobile balances, a limited number of other services aggregated through the third-party provider were suspended as a precautionary safety measure. The core MTN Mobile Money services namely cash deposits, withdrawals, Person to Person (P2P) transactions and MoMo payments were never affected nor compromised at any stage.
Investigations led by the Uganda Police Force are ongoing to identify the root cause of the incident. We are confident the Uganda Police Force will conclude their investigations timeously and take appropriate action against the culprits.
The MTN mobile money platform complies with the highest international ICT security standards and is subjected to regular assessments and reviews by internal and external assurance providers.
We apologize to all our customers for any inconveniences and reassure the public that MTN Mobile money services are safe, convenient, and transparent.
Wim Vanhelleputte
Chief Executive Officer MTN Uganda
-END-
About MTN Uganda
Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As at 31st December 2018, MTN Uganda recorded 11.2 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug or www.twitter.com/mtnugpro for assistance.
For more information, please contact:
The mediadesk.ug@mtn.com or 0772 123 067 or
Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com
Thursday 01 October 2020 – Kampala, Uganda – Uganda’s leading PAYGo solar company, Fenix International Uganda (a company of ENGIE) and MTN Uganda, Uganda’s leading telecom operator, announced today the end of their partnership following the expiry of their current agreement.
Fenix International Uganda, the manufacturer of ReadyPay solar home systems (SHS) began the relationship with MTN in 2009, during the pilot phase of its first SHS and made history as the first African solar home system kit to be branded by a telecom operator. Both companies sustained the relationship over the years and officially went into an exclusive partnership in 2014. Since then, the partnership has resulted in connecting over 560,000 households in Uganda to clean, affordable electricity and impacting over 2.5 million people. In addition to lighting, customers are also able to access an on-grid experience with TVs, radios, and sound systems, as well as financial products like school-fee loans.
“The success of Fenix and ReadyPay in Uganda is due in a big part to MTN. In the early days, as a small startup with the ambition to impact millions of lives in Uganda, MTN took a bet on us and allowed us to pursue our mission of providing off-grid Ugandans with access to clean, affordable electricity and financial services. Together, we have celebrated many successes and historic milestones in Uganda,” said Daniel Willette, Managing Director of Fenix Uganda. “Due to our success in Uganda, we have been able to replicate this partnership model over the years in other countries across Africa. We are indeed grateful to MTN for the critical role they played in our success.”
ReadyPay customers buy solar homes systems with a small deposit and pay back as little as 500 Ugandan Shillings per day using MTN Mobile Money. Most customers have credited ReadyPay for their introduction to mobile money and they go on to keep using it for other services. In 2019 alone, ReadyPay customers made more than 11 million mobile money payments on the MTN network, making Fenix one of MTN’s highest volume partners.
“Our partnership with Fenix International has achieved great success over the years, particularly in terms of mobile money adoption in Uganda,” said MTN Chief Executive Officer, Wim Vanhelleputte. “We are grateful to have partnered with such a mission-focused and impact-driven organization like Fenix, and are extremely proud of the impact we have jointly made in the lives of Ugandans, especially through access to energy, financial inclusion and mobile connectivity. We plan to keep building on these successes and wish Fenix all the best as they move on.”
The impact of this partnership goes beyond providing households with electricity, as Fenix and MTN we have lit up schools and health clinics in off-grid communities across Uganda, through the MTN Foundation.
“Even though our partnership has come to an end, we still look forward to collaborating with MTN on various projects in the future to keep impacting the lives of Ugandans,” said Willette. He also assured customers that their payment will not be affected, “our customers will continue to make their ReadyPay payments with MTN Mobile Money, this is not going to change.”
About Fenix International
Fenix International’s mission is to transform customers’ quality of life through disruptive innovation in energy and financial services. Fenix has sold over 800,000 solar home systems, bringing clean, reliable power for lights, phones, radios, TVs and more to over 5 million people across Africa. Fenix is a fully-owned subsidiary of ENGIE, one of the world’s largest energy companies and a leader in the move to renewable, decentralized and digital energy. Already the market leader in Uganda and Zambia, Fenix has expanded into new markets – Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Mozambique – and continues to work towards providing more affordable, inclusive, and income-generating products.
About MTN Uganda
Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services, and Internet Service Provisioning. As at 31st December 2018, MTN Uganda recorded 11.2 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug or
www.twitter.com/mtnugpro for assistance.
For more information, please contact:
The mediadesk.ug@mtn.com or 0772 123 067 or Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com
Emmy Olaki at emmy.olaki@tbwa-uganda.com or 078 260 5997
Fenix International – press@fenixintl.com
MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda wish to inform the public and their customers that due to unprecedented technical challenges, mobile money services between the two networks are temporarily suspended.
Our technical teams are working together to resolve the challenges and restore the services as soon as possible.
We apologise to all customers for any inconvenience that this has caused and reiterate our commitment to delivering seamless mobile money services.
Regards,
| Wim Vanhelleputte
Chief Executive Officer MTN Uganda |
VG Somasekhar
Managing Director Airtel Uganda |
-END-
Media enquires:
| Rhona Arinaitwe
Senior Manager Corporate Communications MTN Uganda
|
Email: Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com
|
| Sumin Namaganda
Corporate Communications Manager Airtel Uganda
|
Email: sumin.namaganda@ug.airtel.com
|
Stanbic Bank Uganda, MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda inform the public and their customers that on Saturday 3 October 2020, a third-party service provider experienced a system incident which impacted Bank to Mobile Money transactions. All Bank to Mobile Money/Wallet services have since been temporarily suspended.
This system incident has had no impact on any balances on both Bank and Mobile Money accounts.
Our technical teams are analysing the incident and will restore services as soon as possible.
We apologise to all customers for any inconvenience that this has caused and reiterate our commitment to delivering seamless banking and mobile money services.
Regards,
|
Anne Juuko Chief Executive Stanbic Bank Uganda
|
Wim Vanhelleputte
Chief Executive Officer MTN Uganda |
VG Somasekhar
Managing Director Airtel Uganda |
Media enquires:
| Cathy Adengo
Corporate Communications Manager Stanbic bank Uganda
|
Email: adengoc@stanbic.com |
| Rhona Arinaitwe
Senior Manager Corporate Communications MTN Uganda
|
Email: Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com
|
| Sumin Namaganda
Corporate Communications Manager Airtel Uganda
|
Email: sumin.namaganda@ug.airtel.com
|
- On 13th August 2020, at the Diamond League Meet in Monaco, Ugandan athlete Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei broke the 16-year 5000 metres World Record of 12.37.35 set by Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, setting a new record of 12.35.36.
- On 7th October 2020, Cheptegei will yet again attempt to re-write history, by attempting to break the 15year-old 10,000 metres record of 26:17.53 set by the same athlete, Bekele.
- MTN Uganda is mobilizing Ugandans to rally support for Cheptegei as he endeavors to raise the country’s flag high on the international stage.
Saturday 3rd October 2020, Kampala-Uganda: MTN Uganda is throwing its weight behind the country’s celebrated athlete, Joshua Cheptegei as he attempts to break yet another record set by Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele in the men’s 10,000 metre race. The telecom giant is harnessing its reach and voice to mobilize Ugandans to rally behind their own as he strives to bring yet another prestigious title back home, at the NN Valencia World Record Day on October 7th, 2020.
In August this year, Uganda’s Cheptegei broke Bekele’s 15year old record in the men’s 5,000 metres race by a whopping 2 seconds when he posted a race time of 12:35.36 as faster than Bekele’s 12:37.35.
To celebrate this personal and national milestone, MTN Uganda rewarded the athlete with UGX. 123,536,000 and 12GB of data, 35 Voice minutes and 36 SMS every month for twelve months, all symbolic of the new world record time. In addition to that accomplishment, Cheptegei will again hit the Turia stadium tracks in Valencia to challenge Bekele’s sixteen-year-old 26:17.53 record time.
Bekele’s 10,000m world record is one of the toughest in the books as it is the longest standing men’s 10,000m world record in history. As such Joshua’s attempt to break this world record is not only a win for Joshua and Uganda but will confirm Cheptegei’s place among the world’s greatest athletes of all time.
Speaking about MTN’s involvement with the athlete, Somdev Sen, MTN Uganda’s Chief Marketing Officer said, “Considering how important this record will be for Uganda’s image and the athletics fraternity, we are rallying support for Cheptegei as he challenges this tough record. He has given us reason to believe in him and we owe him our support as he proudly flies our flag.”
To inspire him and rally support across the country, MTN Uganda is running an online campaign leading up to 7th Oct to drive awareness and encourage Cheptegei as he after Bekele’s long-standing record.
Customers will be prompted to post their prediction of Joshua’s finish time in his attempt to beat the 10,000 metre world record. The predictions will be posted to the MTN Social Media pages using hashtags #GoodTogether, #NNValenciaWRDay and the first customer to post the closest finish time will win the equivalent to the time run by Cheptegei from MTN Uganda. For instance, if Cheptegei posts a running time of 26:17.00, the customer will win UGX. 261,700 or data worth the same amount of money.
MTN has sponsored athletics in Uganda for the last 16 years through support to programs of the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF). It is from this partnership, that the Federation is steadily growing Uganda’s reputation as a track and field athletics powerhouse in the region and continent.
“MTN has been a part of grass root development of athletics in Uganda and salutes all the big strides the sport is achieving. We pledge to continue supporting the sport in whatever way we can,” Sen said.
—- ENDS —-
About MTN Uganda
Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As at 31st December 2018, MTN Uganda recorded 11.2 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug or www.twitter.com/mtnugpro for assistance.
About the MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN”. We are pursuing our BRIGHT strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech and digital businesses.
For more information, please contact:
Rhona Arinaitwe at rhona.arinaitwe@mtn.com or 077 2123067 or Emmy Olaki at emmy.olaki@tbwa-uganda.com or 078 260 5997